[Elecraft] PSK31 neophyte needs help please! [K3]

[Bill Frantz]

Hi Julie - I don't have a Windows machine, so other people will 
have to weigh in on the Windows software issues. However some of 
your issues are computer agnostic.

On 11/21/12 at 10:50 AM, effectivehcps at bellsouth.net (Larry 
Royster) wrote:

>I am confused about archive posts discussing VOX for PTT.  Can 
>I ignore that?  Is that a different option or is that necessary?

There are two ways to key the K3 transmitter in digital modes. 
You can use the radio's push to talk connection, or you can use 
VOX (Voice Operated [Transmit/Receive] Relay). With a SignaLink 
in the system you have two VOX systems to choose from, the one 
in the SignaLink and the one in the K3. The easiest one to use 
is the one in the K3, and I recommend using it at first even if 
you plan on using the radio's PTT line later. It removes one 
connection from the equation which makes debugging easier.

(Full disclosure: I am still using the K3's VOX with my 
MacIntosh <--> SignaLink <--> K3 setup. I'm too lazy to makeup 
another cable.)

If you can't get the radio to key (go to transmit mode) with K3 
VOX then either the audio from the computer/SignaLink isn't 
getting through, or it is not loud enough. I run my SignaLink 
with the TX and RX knobs full up. I have had to adjust the 
computer output volume with the control pannel application to 
get enough volume. You can tell if the audio is getting to the 
K3 by using headphones to listen to the plug that goes to "Line 
In" on the K3.


>We do not seem to be decoding any signals but I don’t know 
>how to tell if that is because I have done something wrong or 
>there are no signals strong enough to receive.  I have tried 
>several bands.

Try listening to the signals by turning up the AF control on the 
K3. If you can hear the warble of PSK31, the signals are there 
and there is some problem getting them to the SignaLink or on to 
the application in the computer. I have the SignaLink connected 
to the K3 with a home brew cable using Cat-5 twisted pairs going 
to "Line In" and "Line Out".


>The K3 is set to Data A, but Digipan does not know about data 
>mode...  It has band-by-band settings for frequency, then 3 
>choices of tone, USB, or LSB.  I have tried each with no 
>difference that I can perceive.  Which am I supposed to 
>choose?  Maybe something more basic is wrong?

The K3 Data A mode uses USB signaling to the computer. Whether 
you use USB or LSB on the computer won't matter for the PSK 
modes since they are symmetrical. It will matter for RTTY. I 
don't know what "tone" means in Digipan.

GL, Bill - AE6JV

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